Organ



June 26, 1951 s. K. KET'l ERMAN ORGAN 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1948 June 26, 1951 5, KETTERMAN 2,558,299

ORGAN Filed Nov. 26, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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Patented June 26, 195 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to organs, and more particularly to air operated organs utilizing reeds as sound producing elements.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a generally improved reed organ which can be produced for sale at a reasonable cost.

As another object, my invention comprehends the provision of a small wind operated organ having good tone quality and which operates to produce sufiicient volume for a wide variety of uses without the use of amplifiers or other such electronic equipment.

My invention has fo another object the provision of a small wind operated organ embodying a power driven blower as a part of a unitary organ structure, and having parts so constructed and related that the operation of the blower and the movements of air to and from the tone producing parts are at all times quite silent.

The organ of this invention embodies a quantity, variety and arrangement of keys, reeds and stops such that a sufficient scale coverage in a variety of tonal eiiects, as well as a two-manual organ effect are obtainable.

It is further within the purview of my invention to provide an organ wherein sound producing elements of the free reed type are disposed in a cell structure and in a sound chamber or chest in order to produce a mellow resonant effect, such as that attained from the pipes or" a large organ; the chamber or chest, for Volume control purposes being equipped with a variable control panel actuated by a foot controlled swell pedal.

In this organ, the keys actuate valves, as is usual, but I have so constructed and arranged the keys and their respective valves that each key acts quite directly to eiiect movement of its respective valve, and each valve is so disposed with respect to the direction of air flow that the normal pressure tends to seat the valve and offers limited resistance to the initial lifting of each valve from its seat, whereby sharp valve opening and closing movements are effected, so as to produce crisply defined notes and a desirable key touch response.

The valve arrangement and structure of my organ is also related to the sound producing reed ensemble in a manner such that a single valve controls air flow through a plurality of reeds of a given pitch and diiierent tone characteristics, and the reed tone characteristics used at any one time are selective operations of stop keys.

I have brought within the purview of this invention the provision of electromagnetically actuated stop valves embodied in the air flow systerm of the organ in a manner such that both gravity and normal air pressure tend to move the stop valves to their normally closed positions.

As a further object, my invention comprehends the provision or a system of valves and traps in the air flow system for regulating the air flow to an amount dependent upon the playing demands and such that the flow is silenced when the demand is low.

Accessibility to reeds for replacement, cleaning or adjustment is provided in the preferred structure of my reed organ by providing supports for those reeds from. which they are removable by slipping the. from a retaining slot and by providing valves carried and biased in such a way that they are readily moved from and to operating and out-of-the-way positions and biased to those positions when moved thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the four sheets of drawings;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view taken from the front and somewhat to one side of one form of a unitary organ structure embodying a preferred form of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the organ structure shown in Fig. 1 and depicting a preferred arrangement of the playing and stop keys utilized in the preferred form of my organ;

Fig. 3 is a rear sectional view of the organ shown in Fig. 1 wherein certain parts are cutaway to illustrate details of interior construction and arrangement;

Fig. 4. is a fragmentary side sectional View taken substantially on a line 5-6 of Fig. 3 and drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic top plan view illustrating the arrangement of valves and air passages utilized in the disclosed organ structure;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a preferred type of reed structure adapted to use in the organ of my invention;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary top plan view which depicts a preferred type of valve structure and arrangement adapted to use in this organ, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a control mechanism utilized in the disclosed organ structure.

Having reference to the accompanying drawings, the exemplary embodiment of my invention which is disclosed for illustrative purposes comprises a unitary and semi-portable organ struc- 3 V ture which is preferably contained, in its entirety, in a case H or housing, along the front of which a key bed I2 supports a set of keys I3 arranged in the manner of those of a piano and utilized for the manual selection of notes in playing the instrument. As is usual in organs, in addition to the selection of notes by the keys l3, there are additional available selections of the tone characteristics or combinations of tone characteristics, as well as certain effects which, in the present instance, are chosen by the manual movements of stop keys i4 disposed above and to the rear of the keys I3 and movably carried so as to project from a stop panel l5 which forms a part 7 of the case it). Facing forwardly of the organ and above the keyboard is a music rest it secured to a top panel I! of the case and projectin upwardly in angular relationship thereto.

It is my preference that the case of the disclosed organ shall not only carry all of the operating parts of the organ so that it is unitary and self-contained but also that the case shall form a practically complete enclosure for those operating parts. In the present instance, the caseincludes end panels l8 and 19, a lower front panel 26 below the lrey bed and a removable back panel 22 in addition to the aforementioned top panel ll, key bed l2, stop panel l and key mechanism cover panels 23 and 24.

In my preferred structure, the interior of the case IE3 is divided into compartments which, in the present instance, comprise a secondary resonant chamber 25 extending substantially all of the way across the upper portion of the case interior, a blower compartment 25 below one end of the secondary resonant chamber and a compartment 21 occupying the other end of the portion of the space below the secondary resonant chamber, which latter compartment serves as a housing for additional operating parts of the organ mechanism. A movable cover 28 secured to the top panel IT by a hinge 29 serves as a tone louver and normally closes an opening at in the mid-portion of the top panel; said tone louver being adapted to close the top of the case when theorgan is not in use and to serve as an output volume control, depending on whether it is open of closed while the organ is being played.

The bottom of the secondary resonant chamber is defined by a partition 32 which extends the full width of the interior of the case from the end panel I8 to the end panel H). A partition 33 extends vertically from the bottom wall 34 of the case to the mid-portion of the partition 32 and separates the blower compartment 26 from the compartment 21.

As one precaution against the dissemination of undesirable mechanical noise from the blower, which would be particularly noticeable when the organ is being played softly or during silent periods, the entire interior of the blower compartment 26 is preferably lined with sound insulating material 35 of substantial thickness, which material may be one of the relatively soft fibrous materials utilized for that purpose. As a further precaution against the production of undesirable noise, either mechanically produced by the vibration of the blower or resulting from air flow, a box 36 is mounted within the bottom portion of the blower compartment 26 and serves as an enclosure for an electric blower motor 31 which carries a blower fan 38. The interior of the box 36 is lined with sound insulating material .39. Adjacent the mid-portion of the fan an air a inlet opening 40 is provided in an end wall 42 of the blower box 35. An air outlet Opening 53 is provided in the top of the box and communicates with the interior of the blower compartment 26. To provide an outlet for air from the blower compartment 26, an air passage 44 is provided in the partition 33 and the insulating material adjacent that partition.

At the air inlet opening 48 of the blower box 35, the flow of air produced by the blower is proportioned to the playing demands of the organ and silenced by a bellows structure which covers the inlet opening it and has, in addition to a flexible bellows wall an end wall ll spaced from the end wall 32 of the blower box and hingedly supported along to the upper edge for swinging movement toward and from the inlet opening A compression spring 18 normally biases th bellows end wall 61 away from the end wall #32 of the blower box and is preferably mounted interiorly of the bellows with one end bearing against the end wall :32 of the blower box and its other end braced against a cap 59 which is removably secured to the bellows end wall 41, so that the spring is accessible for replacement and cleaning. A cover 50 is carried on the interior of the bellows structure by a post 52 secured to the bellows end wall 43'! and is aligned, as well as of a size, to cover the inlet opening when moved toward that opening against the biasing forces of the spring 58.. This cover has a plane surface facing the inlet opening which, by preference, is covered with a layer 53 of material such as felt. Above the blower box 36, the interior of the. bellows structure 45 has an air flow connection to a flexible conduit 54 which, in turn, has an end connected to, an opening 55 in the partition 32.

With the bellows structure thus constructed for the control of air flow into the blower box through the inlet opening 40, the reduced pressure within the blower box 36 which is effected when there is little or no flow of air into the bellows structure through the conduit 54 causes the bellows to collapse to a position such that the cover 50. covers the air inlet opening 30. On the other hand, when the flow of air to the interior of the structure through the conduit 54 is increased, the effect is to increase the air pressure within the bellows structure, so as to allow that bellows structure to expand as a result of the biasing force of the spring 48 whereupon the cover 59 moves away from the inlet opening 49 in an amount proportioned to the air flow.

For effecting further silencing of the mechanical noise of the blower and the air flow, it is my preference to provide a trap door 56 made of a light material, such as wood, and hingedly secured tothe top of the blower box 3?; at a position to cover the outlet opening 53. This trap door carries a sealing surface pad 5? and is normally biased to a closet position with respect to the outlet opening by gravity; the trap door being sufficiently light in weight that air pressure forces the trap door from the opening when there is a substantial flow of air through that opening. Within the compartment 2?, the air passage 44 is provided with a similar gravity controlled trap door 58 which carries a sealing pad 59 and is hingedly supported along one edge at a position normally to cover the outlet end of the air passage 44.

Within the secondary resonant chamber 25, front and rear walls 66 and 62 respectively (Fig. 4) and end walls, such as as, (Fig. 3) extend upwardly from the partition 32 and support a cell I block 64 above the partition 32, so that those walls and the cell block, together with the partition 32 define an air chamber 65 extending almost the entire width of the organ case below the cell block and communicating with the blower through the flexible conduit 54 and bellows structure 45. Above the cell block 65, the front and rear walls 60 and 62 and end walls such as 66, together with a movable cover 6i define a primary resonant chamber or swell chamber 68; the cover 6'! being secured to the top of the rear wall 62 by hinges 69 so that it is swingable upwardly from a normally closed position to serve as a swell for controlling the volume output of the organ. In my preferred structure which is disclosed, the weight of the cover 8'! is counter-balanced to a large extent by resilient means which, in this instance, is in the form of a resilient metal rod it having end portions 12 and 73 disposed in substantially right angular relationship to the relatively long mid-portion of the rod and projecting into bores in the edges of the cover and rear wall, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The normal angular dispositions of the end portions 12 and 13 are such that when the cover is in the closed position, the midportion of the rod 76 is twisted.

Having reference to Figs, 1, 3 and 8, the swell provided by the cover 5! is adapted to be actuated to a position providing the desired volume output by a swell pedal I4 movably mounted for foot control in an opening 75 in the lower front panel 23 of the organ case. As depicted in Figs. 3 and 8, the swell pedal 14 is hingedly mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane by a hinge block '16 secured to the bottom wall of the case and having a hinge pin ll extending through a block 78 secured to the inner pedal surface. A stop 79 is desirably provided for limiting the inward movement of the swell pedal. Near its movable end, remote from the hinge block 16, a link 89 movably connects the swell pedal to an arm 82 of a crank 83, which crank comprises a rod portion 84 carried for rotation by bearing blocks 85 secured to the bottom wall 34 and having the arm 82 secured to one end and another arm 35 secured to the other end. The normal angular positions of the crank arms 82 and 86 are such that swinging movement of the arm 82 downwardly toward a horizontal position in response to similar pedal movement effects corresponding upward swinging movement of the arm 86 from a substantially horizontal position. The upward swinging movement of the end of the arm 86 effects upward movement of a link 81 which is connected thereto. At its upper end, the link 8'! has a slot 88 in which a projecting pin 89 on the edge 'of the cover is disposed. The pin 89 being displaced from the axis of the cover hinges 65, the cover is moved upwardly by movements of the link 87 and returns by gravity upon release of the force exerted through the latter link.

As depicted in Fig. 6, the reeds utilized to produce tones or audible notes of various frequencies in this exemplary embodiment of my invention each includes a metal yoke 96 having elongated and substantially parallel side portions 92 and 93 with an elongated opening 94 therebetween in which a vibratory reed 95 is resiliently supported at one end. The passage of air through the opening 94 and adjacent the reed effects vibratory movement of the reed at a frequency dependent upon characteristics, such as the mass and resilience thereof. The characteristics of the reed structure, in addition to controlling its fundamental vibrating frequency, also control the tone characteristics or harmonic vibrations which it produces. In use the reeds are each supported by a supporting structure through the yoke, while the vibratory reed portions are free to move upon the flow of air relative thereto.

In my preferred reed organ structure, the cell block 64 provides a firm and solid foundational structure for supporting the reeds; the cell block being constructed and arranged and having sufficient mass in itself to provide a solid base from which the pure reed tones emanate, without that cell block structure having extraneous vibrations set up therein or in any way interfering with the emanation of those pure reed tones. As depicted in the diagrammatic view of Fig. 5, the disclosed cell block carries five sets of reeds, each of which sets includes reeds having predetermined fundamental frequencies and covering a preselected frequency range; the sets being arranged in rows designated as P, M, V, D and B and each of the sets having difierent tone characteristics. It may be readily understood that various numbers of such sets and various tone qualities for the sets may be provided. In the present instance, the sets are characterized by the terms Bourdon, Diapason, Viola, Melodia and Principal. The respective equivalent organ pipe lengths are 16 feet, 8 feet, 8 feet, 8 feet and 4 feet. In each of the sets there are the same number of reeds or notes similarly arranged and having the reeds of each fundamental frequency aligned laterally of the rows.

In effecting the foregoing arrangement, as well as rigidity, in the cell block structure, my preferred form of cell block is constructed of longitudinally extending block sections 56, 9?, 98, 953 and Hill, each of which has therein a series of uniformly spaced reed cavities, such as H12, H33, I84, I and IE6, as depicted in Figs. 4 and '7. In each instance, the reed cavities open downwardly of the block sections at the top and along the front sides of the respective block sections. Also, as depicted in Figs. 4 and '7, reed retaining grooves [01, H18, H39, H8 and H2 are provided adjacent the front openings of the reed cavities and extend along both sides of one end of the respective reed cavities from the open ends thereof, so that the reeds such as 953?, 58M, 96V, D and 96B, are movably carried in their respective reed cavities by being pushed into the reed retaining grooves from the open upper ends of the reed cavities. Thus, in each instance, the vibratory tongues of the reeds are exposed to the interior of the reed. cavities and to the front openings of the block sections and are effectively interposed between the front and top openings of the block sections.

Intermediate the adjacent and substantially parallel block sections at, 2?, as, lon gitudinally extending marginal strips i it are secured to the respective block sec ions in spaced and substantially parallel relationship to define air flow channels H4, H5, H5, and Ill com-- munication with the reed cavities of the block sections 91, 98, 99 and ifiii respectively. This construction unites the block sections into a relatively solid cell block of laminated construction and including air passages for the flow of air to the reeds of the series, as well as the individual reed cells. On the opposed front and rear surfaces of the block thus formed, additional marginal strips H8 and [it are secured to the block sections in separated and substantially parallel relationship. These strips not only serve as':.-supports for the cell block when securedtosthje front'and'rear Walls [itand $2 of the air cham her. 65: but the strips Hi3 define a channel l20 communicating with the. reed cells, of the front block sections so. As depicted in Fig, 3,, the ends of the air flow channelsv lit, H5, H8; ill and I29 are closedby lateral strips such as, 522st, the opposite ends of the cell block.

Although the reeds oi eachrow provide a COD-.- tinuous. sequential'series of notes from oneend of the :cell block to the other, it ismy preference in the present structure to partition the air flow channels. Ht, 555, iii lliand. i ilataligned positions near. the mid portion of theseries, as depicted by dotted lines :at H3. in Figs. 3and 5. Thispartitioning together with the provision .of air flow valve controls for selectively opening and closing the passage of air tov the separate portions of the divided air flow channels servesin the .production of a twcananual organ effect. The dis-.- closed organ, as indicated in Fig. 5, has 61 notes ranging from C to The partitioning ofthe reed series to. provide upper and lower stops is at the mid-portion of the range between Eand F, so that there are 32 notes in the upper stop and 29 notes in the lower stop.

As indicated in Fig. 5, the air flow channels lie, M l, H5, lit and ii? in the lower stop section communicate with the air chamber E35 through openings ti t, its, l2 and lid-which open ings are preferably disposed longitudinally and laterally staggered relationship relative to one another. Likewise, the air flow channels ifiil, l M, I it, i it and i ll of the upperstop group communicate with the air chamber through openings are, 532, I33 and :34, respectively. The openings of the latter group are also preferably disposed in longitudinally and laterally staggered. relationship in the lower surface of the cell block. Over each of the respective openings 424 H5, E25, i2l I28, i233, ltii, i3l, l32, I33 and I35 on the lower surface of the cell lock, I have provided a valve box Hi5; H55, E31, S33, lfiil, Hi0, m2, I 33, its and M5. As depicted in Figs. 3 and 4, each valve box has in its lower surface two air flow passages hill. Each such air flow passage i i-5 is normally closed by a valve Mil; the valves in each instance being biased to the closed position by both gravity and a light spring MB (Fig. l). As shown in Fig. 4, each valve it? is carried for independent opening and closing movements by a magnetic armature i is actuated by an electromagnet 558-. It may be noted that with the arrangement disclosed, the valves Ml open against the normal force of the air pressure effected by the blower, in addition to being biased to the closed position by gravity and their respective springs MS. Thus, failure to operate leaves the valve closed. Also, the operation against the air pressure effects quick opening movement. Furthermore, the use of two valves in parallel relationship in each valve box, either of which valves controls an opening of sufficient size to permit air flow for satisfactory operation, provides a safety factor against the failure of stop valve operation- As depicted in Fig. 4, each or the stop keys i=3 extends through an opening 552 in the stop panel l5 and. is sup: rted. f r swinging movement in a vertical plane relative-to apivot shaft 53.; the stop hey being notched to receive the shaft and held in position against the shaft by a curved leaf Spring let. One end of the curved leaf spring ltifi is supported by an anchor screw l55:which is carried by the stop panel l5; whilethe other end of-the leaf springengages a-notch in the: surface. of the stop key opposed to; the pivot shaft .5.3: The effective action line of each spring- !54 isv such that it crosses the axis of the pivot shaft 156 during movements from one of its operating positions, to the other, whereby the stop keysare biased to the position to which they are: manually actuated; one position being determined-by a stop, pad I55 on one surface ofthe opening 552, and the other position being determinedbyia stop pad 557 on the opposed openingsurface.

Each stop key has an inwardly extendingend portion. E58 aligned for effecting actuation of normally separated and resilient switch contacts iE'E and we carried by insulating support strips I62 A transformer i5 5 and a rectifier. I64 mounted on the bottom wall as of the case in the compartment 2"! 3) are adapted to be connected to a suitable alternating current power source and. to provide direct current for the .actuation of'the stop valve electromagnets i593. In each instance, circuit to the stop valves in one of the valve oozes-is controlled by the contacts actuated by one of the stop keys, that for convenience in producing a full organ efiect, a contact bar is actuated by a full organ stop keyiiis-to en age a series of contacts .567, thereby closing the circuits to all of so stop valve electromagnets by the operation of single stop key.

With the disclosedarrangement of stop keys, air passages and valves, the respective valves in tlie'boxes l ii, i3 5, 535 and l35 which control the fie-wof air through openings l23, lill', 12s, i525 and lis'to the air flow channels of the cell bloc-l: to the reeds in the lower register are actuatedby movements of the stop keys l iB, [4D, lav, t ll-J1 and'ii. Likewise, the valves for the upperregister of notes which are enclosed in boxes i 35, its, hi3, li and Hi9 are controlled by actuationoi-thestop keys MB", MD, I -lV', MM and MP" respectively. Through the selections effective by-nianual actuation of various ones and combinations of the step keys, diii'erent selections oi -tone characteristics and combinations thereof may be made in both the upper andlower register of notes.

As hasbeenpreviously explained, the reeds are arranged in rows in the cell block and the reeds of those rows are ali ned laterally of the rows. Also, the individual reed cells in the cell block open into the primary resonant chamber-58; Air flow to the reeds ofthe rows is selectively controlled in both the upper and lower registers of notes by valves l il ac mated by movements of. the stop lze s i i; In addition, the selection of notes for playing the organ by manual movements of the he s Isis effected through an additional set of valves I68 actuated by movements of those keys.

The valves lfifi are substantially alike in structure, eachis actuated by individual key and each valve is of a size and normally" disposed to cover and close -the open ends of an aligned group of reed cells ransverse to the rows of such cells and" having the same fundamental tone frequency.- As shown in- Figs. l and 7, each such valve comprises a strip of Wood or other light material i carrying, on its cell covering surface,

a layer i lfl ofa; relatively soft sealing material,

r is carried-for 'm'ovement-fromiand toward-its normally closed position over one group of cell openings by a crank-type actuating element I13.

Each crank-type element has aligned bearing portions I14 and H journalled for rotational movement in bearing strips I16 and I11 disposed in spaced relationship to opposite sides of the cell block. Intermediate the bearing portions I1 1 and I15, each crank-type actuating element has a straight mid-portion H3 displaced to one side of the axis of the bearing portions and substantia-lly parallel thereto, which straight portion is of a length to fit into the longitudinal groove I72 of a valve strip, the fit being suiiiciently snug to carry the valve strip while allowing preliminary rotational movement of the strip toa seating position over a group of reed cells. At the front ends, the actuating elements have projecting crank portions I19 which, in the present instance, are disposed in coplanar relationship with the offset mid-portions of the actuating elements, so that a force exerted upwardly on the rojecting end of the crank portion of any actuating element effects an individual and upward opening movement of the valve carried thereby.

Springs I86 are utilized normally to bias the actuating elements and their respective valves to the closed position. Each such spring has an end connected to the projecting crank por" tion I19 of the actuating element, while its other end is anchored to a stationary pin I52 disposed below the crank portion. In my preferred structure, and as depicted in 7, the projecting crank portions I19 of the actuating elements include portions it having obtuse angular relationship to the bearing axis and the crank end portion and which not only serve as the crank arms of the crank portions, but also provide slides for the ends of the biasing springs I89. Also, the anchored ends are so positioned with respect to the crank portions that in addition to normally biasing the actuating ele=- ments and their respective valves to the closed position, the springs slide along the portions I83 when a valve is moved to an out-of-the-way position as illustrated at the right hand side of Fig. 7. In the latter position, the spring does not interfere with the valve movement to an out-of-the-way position and serves to hold it in that latter position when manually moved thereto. With any valve in such an out-of-theway position, it may be observed that the group of reeds controlled by that valve is accessible for removal by sliding movement endwise and outwardly of the reed retaining grooves. In addition to the normal biasing forces of the r spective springs I 89 to hold their valves in the closed position, it is noteworthy that each such valve is actuated against the normal force of the operating air pressure in moving from its seated position over the reed cells. This pro vides for a quick opening action and has a tendency to keep the seating surfaces free of dust.

As shown in Fig. each key I3 is supported for rocking movement relative to a balance rail I84 by balance rail pads I85 and balance rail pins I36, which latter pins extend through substantially V-shaped slots in the key. Downward movement of the exposed ends of the keys during the playing of the instrument is limited by pads I81 on pins I88 and carried by a front rail I39. Intermediate the balance rail I and the front rail I89, a key leveling screw rail support I95 extends upwardly from the key bed I 2 and carries a key leveling screw rail I92, which rail, in turn, carries key leveling screws I93 for each of the keys. At the rear or inner ends, the keys of the disclosed structure are each cut longitudinally so as to provide an adjustable take-up tongue ISA underlying the projecting end of the crank portion lid of one of the valve actuating elements. The pad IE5 is interposed between the take-up tongue I94 and the projecting end of the crank portion and a take-up screw ESE; is threaded into the take-up tongue to effect an adjustment such that the valve for each key is closed when the key is in a normal level position.

With the disclosed key structure, downward pressure applied to the exposed or playing end of a key raises the inner or rear end of the key lever and correspondingly lifts the projecting end of the crank portion of a valve actuating element so as to raise and thus open one of the valves IIZ against the biasing force of its spring and the air pressure to expose an aligned group of reeds for air flow thereto. Any one or more of such exposed reeds to which there is also communication for the flow of air through the stop valves I41 will be caused to vibrate for producing a tone as the result of the air flow. With the key structures and valves mechanisms provided. it may be noted that the valves are free for movement to the out-of-the-way position shown in Fig. 7 without the necessity of releasing any mechanical connection between the valve actuating elements and their respective keys.

For the production of an additional effect adapted to use in playing the disclosed organ, a tremulant is provided. In my disclosed structure, this tremulant comprises a light weight shaft I91 of rectangular section extending across the front portion of the secondary resonant chamber 25 and supported for rotation at its ends by bearing blocks I98 and end shafts I59. On opposed faces, the shaft I31 has vanes 2=3l of a light, relatively thin and stiif material secured thereto and projecting oppositeiy and equidistantly therefrom along substantially the entire length of the shaft I91. At one end of the shaft I91, a drive pulley 292 is drivingly connected to the shaft and driven through a flexible driving element such as a belt 2!?3 from a motor 204 secured to the end panel Is of the case. The motor preferably has a uniform speed of rotation. In the present instance, and by way of example, the motor speed and drive pulley ratio are such that the speed of rotation of the shaft I 91 and vanes ZIlI'l is approximately 200 revolutions per mintue. When in operation, the tremulant gives a periodic fluttering effect to the sound output of the organ. A switch, which may be of the type utilized and described in connection with the stop keys for actuating the stop valves may be utilized for controlling the operation of the motor 284, and is operated by a stop key 2655 (Figs. 1 and 2).

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes with in the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A reed type wind operated organ comprising, in combination, a unitary cabinet structure including a console carrying a set of keys nicunt- 1! ed in substantially coplanar relationship, a primary resonant chamber, a secondary resonant chamber, an air chamber and a compartment for operating parts, a cell block interposed between the air chamber and primary resonant chamber and including reed cavities and a chan nel providing communication for air ilow between the air chamber and reed cavities, a series of reeds having different fundamental vibrating frequencies, there being a reed with a predetermined frequency for each of said keys and one of the reeds in each reed cavity, valves supported in a common plane parallel to the plane of the .keys at the ends of the keys for individual movemerit and each carried by a rotary crank-type support providing an actuating connection to one of said keys, said valves each normally covering one end of a reed cavity in the cell block and controlling the flow of air through one of said reed cavities and the reed therein, a power driven 'blowermounted in said compartment and having an air flow connection to the air chamber, a cover hingedly mounted on the primary resonant chamber and serving as a swell, and ai -manually operable movable member exposed to the exterior of the cabinet structure and having a connection to said cover for effecting movements thereof to determine the volume output of the organ.

2. A reed type wind operated organ as in claim 1 and further characterized by a trem ulant mounted in the secondary resonant cham ber above thecell block and adjacent the top of the primary resonant chamber and including a shaft element mounted. for rotation and extend ing longitudinally of the chamber, shaft having blades secured thereto and projecting therefrom in opposed directions, and power actuated means for rotating the shaft at a preselected speed.

3. A reed type wind operated organ comprising, in combinatiom'a unitary cabinet structure in cluding a console carrying a set of keys, each of said keys having an adjustable end portion, a primary resonant chamber, a secondary resonant chamber, an air chamber and a compartment for operating parts, a cell block interposed between the air chamber and primary resonant chamber and including rows of reed cavities and channels providing communication for air flow between the air chamber and each row of reed cavities, a series of reeds in the reed cavities in each row and having different fundamental vibrating fre" quencies, there being a reed with a predetermined fundamental frequency for each of said keys in each of the rows and the reeds having the same fundamental frequency in the different rows be ing aligned laterally of the rows, valves sup ported for individual movement and each carried by a crank-type support movable relative to the cell block and providing an actuating connection to one of said keys, said valves each controlling the flow of air through one of said reed cavities of each row and the reeds therein, each of said crank-type supports having an end portion engaging the adjustable end portion of one of the keys, a power driven blower mounted in said com. partment and having an air flow connection to the air chamber, and a manually operable mov-- able member exposed to the exterior of the cab inet structure and having a connection to means for effecting variations in the volume output of the organ.

.4. A reed type wind operated organ as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by partitions in the mid-portions of said channels dividing each of the channels into portions through which air flow communication is provided between the air chamber and a part of the reed cavities of each row, and means for selectively opening and closing air flow communication between the air chamber and each of the channel. portions.

5. A reed type wind operated organ as defined in claim 3 and wherein said blower is enclosedin a housing having air inlet and outlet openings, and each of said openings being provided with a closure element normally biased to close the opening, and the biasing forces on each of the closure elements being such that air pressure fects opening movements thereof when one or more of said valves is opened.

6. A reed type wind operated organ as defined in claim 3 and wherein said cell block comprises a unitary structure made up of wood blocks having the reed cavities therein and reed holding grooves adjacent the reed cavities, said reed cavities being open on the side adjacent the reed channels and at one end, said reed holding grooves opening into the reed cavities and being open at the open ends of the reed cavities so that the reeds are slidable into and from the ends of the reed holding grooves, and strips secured to and between said wood blocks to define said channels communicating with the open sides of the reed cavities.

7, In a reed time wind operated organ, the combination comprising a plurality of sets of reeds wherein the reeds of each set have different predetermined fundamental frequencies covering a range of musical notes, the reeds of the sets having the same fundamental frequencies and different tone characteristics, and the reeds having like fundamental frequencies being disposed in adjacent relationship, a valve for controlling the flow of air to each of the sets of reeds, unitary key actuated valves for simultaneously starting and stopping the flow of air to adjacent reeds having the same fundamental frequencies, and each of said key actuated valves including members movably supported by crank-type elements and having closed, open and out-of-the-way positions, said crank-type elements each, havingaxially aligned bearing portions at opposite ends of the valve member and being shaped to provide a valve carrying portion displaced laterally thereof to one side of the bearing axis and a crank portion displaced to the same side of the bearing axls.

8. In a reed type wind operated organ, the combination comprising a reed structure of the type adapted to the production of a musicalnote upon the flow of air therethrough, means including a key actuated valve having an element starting and stopping the flow of air through the reed structure, said valve element being carried for movements between closed, open and out-of-theway positions by a crank-type member having axially aligned bearings at opposite ends of the valve element, and a spring having one end connected to a portion of the crank-type element for normally biasing the valve element to the closed position, said portion of the crank-type element and said spring being so angularly disposed relative to one another that said one end of the spring moves along said portion during movementof the valve element between the open and out-of-theway positions so as to bias the valve element to the out-of-theway position when it is moved thereto.

9. In a reed type wind operated organ, the combination comprising a plurality of reeds, a cell block providing a relatively massive and solid support for the reeds, walls defining an air chamber on one side of the cell block and a resonant chamber on the opposite side of the cell block, said cell block having openings therein for the flow of air therethrough and relative to the reeds between the air chamber and resonant chamber, a second resonant chamber encompassing the first mentioned resonant chamber, and a movable partitioning element between the resonant chambers and providing a swell.

10. In a reed type wind operated organ, the combination comprising series of reeds, means defining an air flow passage to each series of reeds, and valve means for selectively opening and closing each air flow passage, said valve means including two similar valve openings for each air flow passage and an individually movable valve element biased to a closing position relative to each valve opening, and separate operating parts for moving the valve elements away from the valve openings.

11. In a reed type wind operated organ, the combination comprising a power driven blower, a sound insulated enclosure for said blower having air inlet and outlet openings therein, an expansible bellows mounted on the exterior of the enclosure over the air inlet opening and carrying a cover for movement toward and from a closing position relative to the air inlet opening, resilient means biasing the bellows and cover away from the air inlet opening with a force of a magnitude to be overcome by a reduction of air pressure within the bellows efiected by the blower and in an inverse relation to the volume of air flow to the blower, and a trap normally biased to close the air outlet opening, the biasing force on the trap being of a magnitude such that it is opened by flow of air from the blower.

12. In a reed type wind operated organ, the combination comprising a secondary resonant chamber, a primary resonant chamber within the secondary resonant chamber and having a movable cover for varying the opening for passage of sound from the primary resonant chamber to the secondary resonant chamber, a, swell pedal, and a series of levers and links connecting the swell pedal and movable cover.

SYLVAN K. KETTERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,185,932 Skinner Jan. 2,1940 

